Syrup dispenser



April 26, 1955 G. G. BROWNING EIAL 2,707,059

SYRUP DISPENSER Filed Aug. 4, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 26, 1955 s. G. BROWNING ETAL 2,707,069

SYRUP DISPENSER Filed Aug. 4, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent SYRUP DISPENSER George G. Browning and Walter P. Browning, Devon,

Pa., assignors to The G & W Manufacturing Company, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 4, 1954, Serial No. 447,711

Claims. (Cl. 222-449) The present invention relates to a syrup dispenser and more particularly to a dispenser adapted to be secured to the neck of a jug containing the syrup concentrate and which is operable to dispense a metered quantity of syrup.

The conventional dispensing apparatus for soda fountains and the like consists of an open receptacle for receiving the syrup in bulk form. A valve assembly is mounted in the receptacle is filled from the jugs or other containers for the syrup and the valve assembly is then mounted in the receptacle. At the end of each days operation the valve assembly is removed from the receptacle and the operating parts thereof are cleaned, in order to prevent sticking and clogging of the valve parts. The cleaning necessitates emptying the container or receptacle for the syrup and soaking the valve in warm or hot water to remove the syrup contained therein. When the soda fountain installation has a substantial number of syrup outlets, it is a tedious and timeconsuming task to empty all of the receptacles and remove and clean the valve elements of the various dispensing asseinblies.

With the foregoing in mind, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a syrup dispenser assembly which utilizes the usual storage jug as the syrup reservoir and has a readily demountable valve element which may be easily removed and cleaned at the end of each days operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel valve element which may be secured to an inverted supply receptacle to accurately meter the syrup discharged from the receptacle.

Another object is to provide a simple and effective metering device having a minimum number of movable parts and which is highly economical in manufacture and use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a metering valve for syrups and the like having a dashpot arrangement to prevent closure of the valve before all of the metered quantity of syrup has been discharged.

These and other objects of the invention and the details of the construction and operation thereof are more fully set forth hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the syrup dispenser assembly; u

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view similar to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the assembly with the valve and the supply receptacle removed; D

Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view of the valve element;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with a portion of the casing broken away to illustrate the position of the valve element;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Pi 5' iigj 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the valve element of the dispenser; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 7 showing the valve in its open position.

Referring now to the drawings, the dispensing apparatus of the present invention comprises a casing 11 which is releasably secured as indicated at 12 to the edge of a soda foundation 13 or the like. The casing 11 supports an inverted jug 14 having secured to its neck a valve housing 15. As shown in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive the valve housing 15 has at its one end a screw cap 16 for ice releasable engagement with the threaded neck of the ug 14. Disposed below the screw cap 16 is a foot portion 17 to support the jug 14 therein against both down ward and lateral displacement. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the foot portion is snugly received between inwardly pro ecting lugs or bosses 18 formed in the lower portion of the casing 11. The lugs 18 prevent rotary movement of the valve housing 15 and also serve to support both the valve housing and the jug in the casing 11. As shown in Fig. 2 the forward face of the casing 11 is formed with an elongated recess 19 which receives the body portion of the valve housing 15 so that it projects outwardly of the casing.

The present invention provides a dispensing assembly which may be releasably secured to the counter of a fountainto increase the capacity of the fountain without requiring alteration of the pre-existing arrangements. This is particularly useful when a new variety of soft drink is being introduced to the public. The present dispenser may be secured to the fountain in a prominent location and it may be readily removed if it is found to lack the necessary sales appeal. Another use of the present invention is in temporary fountain locations, such for example as at local fairs or carnivals. Here the dispensing apparatus may be secured to the counter without the necessity for expensive fountain equipment. In this case the only permanent equipment required is a carbonated water outlet. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the casing 11 presents an attractive appearance, and may be readily installed and removed from the counters of preexisting fountains.

In accordance with the present invention the valve meters out a given quantity of the syrup from the jug 14 upon each actuation. To this end, the valve comprises a handle 21 which mounts a piston rod 22 in a hollow cyl ndrical body portion 23 of the valve housing. The cylindrical portion 23 terminates at. one end in an upwardly extending conduit 24 which is provided with the threaded sleeve 16 for securement to the threaded neclcof the jug 14. As shown in Fig. 7 the conduit 24 terminates in an outwardly projecting flange 25 having a gasket 26 thereon to seal between the neck of the jug 14 and the flange 25. A smaller cylindrical chamber 27 is formed beyond the inlet conduit 24 for a purpose more fully set forth hereinafter.

A piston 31 is mounted in the cylindrical chamber 23 and normally bears against the forward end of the chamber 27 to shut off the latter chamber from the former. As shown in Fig. 8, when the handle 21 is actuated forwardly, the piston 31 closes oif the chamber 23 from the inlet conduit 24 and opens the auxiliary chamber 27 into fluid communication with the inlet conduit 24. An auxiliary piston 32 is mounted on the forward end of the piston rod 22.

At the opposite end of the main cylindrical portion 23 discharge outlet 35 is provided to discharge the contents of chamber 23. The forward end of the cylindrical chamber 23 is normally closed by a plug member 36 fixedly mounted on the piston rod 22 and having a gasket 37 for engagement against the end shoulder of the chamber 23. In normal position the plug 36 is biased against the end of the chamber 23 by a spring 38 compressed between the plug 36 and the housing 39 of the valve element 15. Thus when the valve is in normal position, the cylindrical chamber 23 is loaded with the syrup from the jug 14 through the inlet conduit 24, and a given quantity of the syrup is retained in the chamber 23 by the plug closure 36.

When it is desired to discharge the given quantity of syrup retained in the chamber 23, the handle 21 is actuated outwardly against the bias of the spring 38. This uncovers the open end of the chamber and allows the syrup contained therein to flow out through the outlet 35, as shown in Fig. 8. At the same time the piston 31 closes otfthe chamber 23 from the inlet conduit 24 and operates to prevent more than the desired quantity of syrup from flowing out of the chamber 23. Thus a given metered quantity of the syrup is discharged upon each actuation of the handle 21.

When the handle is released the spring 38 tends to snap the plug 36 and the piston 31 respectively against the forward ends of the chamber 23 and the chamber 27. However, the snap action is impeded by the dashpot arrangement provided by the auxiliary piston 32 in the auxiliary chamber 27. To this end, the piston 32 is provided with a flexible gasket member 41 having, it desired, a notch 42 permitting limited fluid flow from one side thereof to the other upon rightward movement as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The notch provides a throttling of the syrup as it flows from one side of the piston to the other so as to retard the return action of the piston rod 22 under the bias of the spring 38. It should be noted, however, that the piston 32 and the gasket 41 does not seriously retard the forward movement of the piston 22. T this end, the trailing edge of the piston, as indicated at 43, does not back up the gasket member 42 sufficiently to prevent the gasket from being displaced rearwardly. This permits fluid flow between the gasket and the wall of the auxiliary chamber 27. Thus, the piston 32 affords quick opening action of the valve, and yet retards or damps the return movement thereof.

Preferably, the valve assembly is formed of Lucite or a like transparent plastic material. This enables the operator of the fountain to watch the operation of the valve, and also insures that the valve housing is properly cleaned at the end of each days operation. By providing a transparent valve member the chance of foreign material becoming lodged in the valve housing and remaining there for an indefinite period, is minimized.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure and changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. For a syrup dispenser, having a casing and an inverted receptacle releasably mounted on said casing, a metering valve for securement to said receptacle cornprising a housing defining a substantially horizontal main cylindrical chamber having a predetermined capacity, an auxiliary chamber at the rearward end of said main chamber in axial alignment therewith, an inlet opening intermediate said main and auxiliary chambers, and an outlet opening adjacent the forward end of said main chamber, a longitudinally reciprocal piston rod in said housing, an auxiliary piston at the rearward end of said rod and mounted for longitudinal displacement in said auxiliary chamber having means thereon affording free forward movement and retarding rearward movement, a main piston mounted for forward and back movement in said main chamber and operable in its rearward limit position to close said auxiliary chamber and open said inlet to said main chamber, and in its forward limit position to close off said inlet from said main chambet, a plug member adjacent the forward end of said rod mounted for reciprocation therewith, disposed in its rearward limit position intermediate said outlet opening and said main cylinder to close off said outlet and in its forward limit position in advance of said outlet opening to afford discharge of said predetermined quantity of material in said main chamber, means to bias said rod to its rearward limit position to afford loading of said main chamber from said supply, and means to actuate said rod to said forward limit position to discharge the load from said main chamber.

2. A metering valve according to claim 1 wherein said housing is formed with a foot portion to engage said casing and support the same against downward and horizontal displacement.

3. A metering valve according to claim 1 wherein said auxiliary chamber is smaller in diameter than said main chamber to provide a shoulder therebetween, said shoulder forming a seat for said main piston in its forward limit position.

4. A metering valve according to claim 3 whereinsaid outlet opening is coaxial with and larger in diameter than said main cylinder to form a shoulder therebetween, said shoulder forming a seat for said plug member in its forward limit position.

5. A metering valve according to claim 4 including a removable cap for the forward end of said housing in axial alignment with said outlet opening and said chambers, the forward extremity of said rod passing through said cap, and said bias means comprising a spring compressed between said plug and said cap.

No references cited. 

